Filmstudy - Filmstudy is a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis of the Ravens defense that incorporates a participation-by-play tracking system. This unique analysis is the brain child of the author and provides our readers with the real story behind the Ravens’ top end defensive results in the National Football League. Make Russellstreetreport.com the source for all of your Ravens football news and the forum to talk about what the Ravens fans want to hear most.

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Battle Plans - During the season, you can expect to find thoughtful analysis in each of our Game Previews. We bring out the chalk and then talk X’s and O’s. In the offseason, Dev Panchwagh — The Scientist, digs beneath the surface and serves up insightful commentary on issues facing the Ravens and the NFL. School is in session!

In terms of depth across the unit, the defensive line for the Baltimore Ravens ranks near the top of the deepest positional units for the team heading into training camp.

Using the draft yet again to add youth to the defensive front, the Ravens have stockpiled enough talent at defensive tackle and defensive end to have an ample influx of youth, while also possessing key veterans to round out the unit.

When it comes to predicting playing time, guessing which defensive linemen will get the most on-field time this season – and at what positions for that matter – is a crapshoot.

The Ravens have a versatile front and it will be interesting to see how Dean Pees gets everyone on the field this season, if possible.

Notable new additions: Timmy Jernigan, Kapron Lewis-Moore and Brent Urban – We’ll throw Lewis-Moore in, since it will almost be as if he’s a new Raven this season after missing his entire rookie campaign with a knee injury. An active 5-tech with consistent hand usage, Lewis-Moore should be eased into the rotation this season, with the hopes of aiding the loss of Arthur Jones, a player Lewis-Moore closely resembles.

As for Jernigan and Urban – two rookies – earning playing time won’t come easy. While a second round pick, Jernigan will battle with second-year defensive tackle Brandon Williams and tackle/end hybrid Haloti Ngata for playing time. Jernigan enters with a disadvantage due to the numbers game, but if he can prove himself at defensive end as well, he should be able to find a role in his first year.

Urban – a massive 6’7 defensive end with ridiculous measurables – may have to accept the project route, as Baltimore’s depth at defensive end is a bit steeper than on the interior.

An impressive athlete with J.J. Watt-like ability to bat the pass down, it will be exciting to see if Urban can make some noise in his first season, although ideally fans should be patient if his playing time is sparse in 2014.

Defensive lineman with the most to prove: Haloti Ngata – At the not-so-young age of 30 and already showing some forms of decline, Ngata’s team-high $16 million cap hit for the 2014 season isn’t a pretty sight.

With the season so close, it’s unlikely the Ravens restructure Ngata’s contract, but they may have to do so in the form of an extension next offseason. Seemingly always ailing and not playing to the level he used to, Ngata isn’t the same All-Pro player he once was, granted he’s still a well above average defensive lineman.

If Ngata can stunt the decline in 2014, he would set himself up well for an extension after the year to remain with the Ravens beyond the 2015 season, when his current contract expires. Baltimore’s depth up front should make it easier to limit Ngata’s snaps, which could increase his productivity.

Player to follow: DeAngelo Tyson – A 2012 seventh round pick, Tyson’s playing time has been sparse in two years with the team, but with the departure of Arthur Jones, a door has opened for more playing time to be extended to Tyson.

In his limited snaps, Tyson has proved himself as someone who is much more valuable than a player selected in the seventh round. He is a consistent run defender, and with a bigger role (which is expected) more of his skill set should be on display this season.

He could push veteran Chris Canty for playing time at defensive end.

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About Kyle Casey

Kyle's love of pro and college football stems from his passion for the Baltimore Ravens. He has held season tickets in section 542 of M&T Bank Stadium since 2004. He is a junior Mass Communications student originally attending Towson University but currently on a year-long exchange at the University of New Mexico. More from Kyle Casey

The talent in the front seven is pretty incredible. Ngata is the centerpiece and one of the best players in the NFL. But he's getting older and could benefit greatly from a deep rotation. This would allow him to be fresher in the 4th quarter and late in the season. Brandon Williams is the guy that will make this happen. I think KLM gets hurt again and goes to the IR. But adding Jernigan is HUGE. This guy can flat out play and IMO will be the MV Raven rookie this year. Forget Cody....he's a bum. That leaves Tyson and Canty, both of whom should see plenty of snaps as Pees looks to keep his defense fresh. If Urban pans out then it's a bonus...he has a huge upside but this is the big leagues and he's in for a jolt of reality. I hope he handles it.
Linebackers are the strength of the team and IMO the best in the NFL, top to bottom. McPhee, Upshaw, Bynes and Arthur Brown are monster backups that would start on many NFL teams...look for McPhee to put his hand in the dirt on passing downs.
This front seven could make it much easier on our secondary but we have 2 shutdown corners that can man up and make it a dream come true for an aggressive pass rush. Lots of upside this year on defense. No one is licking their chops to play the Ravens.....promise you that.

Urban will replace Canty within a year. I questioned why he stayed when we dumped Spears last year. I understand his knowledge and experience are valuable to a young group, but when a 6'7" monster is invisible on the field, you've got a problem. And to me it almost seems like he's smug about it, like he feels his spot is secure, like his sub-par play is something he's accepted and expects us to do the same. It just seems like he thinks he's a lot better than he is.

Filmstudy - Filmstudy is a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis of the Ravens defense that incorporates a participation-by-play tracking system. This unique analysis is the brain child of the author and provides our readers with the real story behind the Ravens’ top end defensive results in the National Football League. Make Russellstreetreport.com the source for all of your Ravens football news and the forum to talk about what the Ravens fans want to hear most.

Lombardi’s Way - A column from the 24×7 founder that focuses on the Ravens, the NFL, Baltimore, the world of sports or life’s inspirations.

Battle Plans - During the season, you can expect to find thoughtful analysis in each of our Game Previews. We bring out the chalk and then talk X’s and O’s. In the offseason, Dev Panchwagh — The Scientist, digs beneath the surface and serves up insightful commentary on issues facing the Ravens and the NFL. School is in session!